Redskins Executive a True Hero

Published Aug 8, 2011 at 11:49 AM

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Eric Schaffer is the Washington Redskins’ vice president of football administration, and if this Washington Post story is any indication, he is a hero.

When the lockout was lifted, the team had an accelerated time line with which to make trades, negotiate contracts and start to build what would be the 2011 team. It was at that moment that Schaffer began the five-day run that would go on to become Redskins lore.

Schaffer, 37, came to work on July 26 at 6:30. That was a Tuesday. He didn’t leave Redskins Park until Saturday, around 4 a.m. It was a work shift that lasted more than 90 hours. Schaffer didn’t sleep and didn’t shave. He was fueled by coffee and sporadic meals. He lost seven pounds.

It’s enough to make even the biggest men end up in the corner crying in the fetal position.

“At any given time, I probably had 10 different deals going on at once,” he told the Post. “Agents calling me, I’m calling them. Some are calling Bruce. Coach is popping in, ‘How are things going? This is what we’re thinking. Let’s talk about this and this now.’ ”

Just thinking about it makes us crazy. This guy deserves a muffin basket.

The rest of the story is worth a read, and it’s clear that Schaffer is one guy we are glad to have on our side of the battle.

“What we’re doing, it’s something I really believe in,” he said. “You don’t want to let anyone down, you don’t want to let the team down. This is my job, and all this, it’s exciting for me.”